There are an incredible number of slot machines and everyone knows it. But the question that many players ask themselves is: what is the best slot machine? And anyone who knows anything about slot machines will know that this is just a hypothetical question. Because the quality of a slot machine is not easy to measure and is mainly in the eye of the beholder. In addition, today not everyone simply uses a computer but is on the move with the iPhone, iPad, Android Tablet or Windows Phone. This makes it more or less impossible to find an answer to this question, but of course it makes sense to deal with it anyway, because it increases the chance of finding the slot machine that suits you best. In this article, we’ll take a close look at the criteria that make a good casino slot machine.
But first, I’d like to give you a general tip:
In my opinion, a casino like LeoVegas, which unites several slot machine manufacturers, offers an almost perfect selection of slot machines. The selection of slot machines is hard to beat. At LeoVegas you can play everything from Yggdrasil to Netent and Microgaming. Popular slot machines like StarBurst, Triple Chance, Game of Thrones, Gonzos Quest, Fortune Teller, Mega Moolah and about 1165 more (as of January 2019). All available on your computer. So before you go any further, I’d recommend you take a look at this excellent casino and gamble with 30 free spins and a 100% bonus!
Overview of the best slot machines
It was time to update our list. We did a lot of research and it was not easy for us. Some machines we have to banish, for better or worse, to accept new ones. Please do not understand the list as a kind of ranking. All listed machines are at about one level – the highest.
Nevertheless, it is clear that certain manufacturers are becoming more dominant and definitely deserve to be included in our top 10 list for 2019.
So let’s get down to it:
#1 Book of Dead from Play’n Go
It’s probably THE surprise for all slot machine freaks that Book of Dead lands in 1st place. But let me put it this way: we’ve bowed to popularity. In our opinion, there are many slot machines that are more innovative and more fun. But European players have a clear answer. Sure, Book of Dead is a reference to the popular Book of Ra, but in our opinion it’s better than the “original”. But it is simply more up-to-date and Play’n Go has done a very good job here. Especially since Book of Dead is playable in many more casinos (like LeoVegas or Slotsmillion) not only in a few.
#2 Jumanji from Netent
It was one of the biggest hits at the cinema: the new edition of Jumanji with Dwayne Johnson. It didn’t take long or Netent had been working on the right slot machine long before. However, unlike most film machines, this one is not based on the film itself but on the game. So you won’t gamble with “The Rock” symbols but with lions, monkeys, rhinos and more. I personally think it’s much better. The slot machine is packed with a lot of features and bonus games. Also the presentation and the structure of the reels is very innovative and varied. You can play Jumanji for example at LeoVegas.
#3 Warlords – Crystals of Power by Netent
For warlords it was just not enough for the first place although it was our favourite for a long time. The range of functions and the variety was too big. I think Netent can still be proud to have created such an excellent slot machine. The good thing about it is that this machine can be played in practically any casino, e.g. at Videoslots.com.
#4 Jungle Books from Yggdrasil
For 2018 Jungle Books was still our #1. Nothing has changed at the slotmachine and it is still innovative and convincing more than a year after its release. There’s no doubt that Jungle Books has already attracted a lot of attention. The machine has also convinced our slot machine freaks with its unbelievable variety of functions and the pure graphic processing. Simply an ingenious video slot. Jungle Books can be played at Leovegas and Slotsmillion.
#5 Gonzo’s Quest from Netent
Gonzo’s Quest has been copied umpteen times but it is and remains the original that you can play at any time. No matter what the mood or the occasion. The playing principle is simply too ingenious for that. The re-spin function is still awesome, you don’t have to discuss it for long. You can also play Gonzo’s Quest with 88€ for free at 888.
#6 Taco Brothers from Elk Studios
We thought long and hard about where to put Taco Brothers and in the end it was “only” a 6th place. But that’s okay. Because even if Taco Brothers convinces, Elk Studios still has a long way to go. But they are well on their way and we are pretty sure that next time a slot machine of them will land further up. Regardless of that: Taco Brothers is also really well implemented on mobile devices. For Christmas we have the Christmas Edition. You can play this video slot at Slotsmillion.
#7 Vikings go Berzerk by Yggdrasil
Another Yggdrasil slot machine! But so deserved of. Anyone who has played this slot machine for a while understands that. All hell is breaking loose and the crazy Vikings are really fighting for everything. Even if it’s just a wild symbol. Anyway, they’re working hard to increase your chances of winning. And they do that very well. Vikings Go Berzerk is an absolute world class video slot which can be played e.g. at LeoVegas.
#8 Planet of the Apes by Netent
Planet of the Apes was developed as a slot machine together with 20th Century Fox and is characterized by an interesting concept in which practically two parties (human and monkey) fight against each other in two different modes. This means that you have two playing fields that rotate simultaneously and are independent of each other. In addition there is a fantastic sound with many effects that make it an exciting thriller – even for non fans. Without a doubt, this new release for 2019 belongs on the list.
You can play Planet of the Apes at LeoVegas or Slotsmillion.
#9 Big Bad Wolf by Quickspin
Big Bad Wolf may be one of the surprises but we just couldn’t help but support the cute piglets in their fight against the evil wolf. No, we don’t really care about them. With us, fun and big winnings count. That’s why Big Bad Wolf managed to land in our list. Some might say the slot machine is too similar to Gonzo’s Quest but I would say it has more features and above all it’s a welcome change from Gonzo. You can play Big Bad Wolf at LeoVegas.
#10 Jack and the Beanstalk by Netent
Jack and the Beanstalk might even have been the favourite for number 1 for many but to be honest the video slot is a bit too old for 2019. But that doesn’t make it any worse. On the contrary, it is a real classic for his young years. What makes this machine so valuable is the wandering game and the free game round which is now really unique and offers really great winning opportunities. You can play Jack and the Beanstalk with 88€ for free at the 888 Casino.
Bonus and More
The most important thing is to win money on slot machines and this is especially dependent on a high deposit bonus and a (progressive) jackpot. If the jackpot is progressive, you can win really high amounts with a low stake. This is the strategy that many slot players follow: Only a few cents bet and hope for the big win, which can amount to millions of euros. These are tricks you should know and the right slot machine should leave you all possibilities.
Theme
The symbols determine the theme of the slot machine and if you can’t get used to it, you will rarely enjoy it. Imagine you like cowboys and want to have a Western theme and then have to play at slot machines with jewellery and handbags. That would be a big disappointment. So it just has to suit you and you have to feel good.
Payout and RTP (Return to Player)
This is directly related to the deposit bonus and the jackpot. If you’re playing at a 90% payout slot machine, it doesn’t have to be bad if everything else is good and can compensate. The bottom line is that you can win more on a lower payout slot if the bonus offer is better. Basically, you should of course prefer the slot machine with a higher chance of winning.
But that’s not the whole story either. Slot machines have become incredibly complex. If you’re not a mathematician or at least have a good idea of statistics, you’ll never be able to see through them. The RTP value only tells you how much goes back to the player on average. Sure, the higher the better. Partly the RTP is also over 100%, namely when a big progressive jackpot is due. But to crack it is very unlikely. So in most cases you don’t get anything out of it. It looks like the RTP without jackpot is 80% and with jackpot 101%. You think “cool, a positive payout, I can only win”. In principle it is, but normally it stays at 80% for you and that’s not really good and destroys the money quite fast.
Many make the mistake of just stubbornly going to RTP. They do not pay attention to the variance at all. Because a high RTP can come also only by very high, but improbable payouts. That is to say, in most cases and sessions you have absolutely nothing of it. You can play for weeks and still not make a big profit. That makes you lose fun and that despite good RTP.
For me, a good slot machine has a payout that optimizes the fun aspect in the short and medium term. Where I can earn a lot of small and medium winnings – best at least one in each session. Thereby the money can be lost faster again and cause bigger “Swings”. But isn’t that exactly what casino gambling is all about? Imagine for every Euro per spin you get 0.98 back. That would be so boring. It doesn’t matter if I get 0.98 or 0.92 back. Bottom line I will do something else after two minutes. It is similar with extreme jackpots where I am constantly paying but ultimately never really crack the jackpot. But a slot machine that already takes 100 Euro before it spits out a 200 Euro win and that is almost in every session something different again. The RTP can also be a bit worse as long as the fun is optimized.
Software
Basically it has to be said that the quality of a slot machine does not depend on the software. An unknown vendor can make a better slot machine than the big Players like Netent, Playn Go, Microgaming, Playtech, etc. It doesn’t really matter, but the big manufacturers have the better option, as they supply many more slot machines to the casinos and the probability that a machine will be a hit is of course greater. This is also true for all other games, especially innovative games that are intended to be an alternative to roulette, poker, etc.
More and more important is the compatibility with tablets, smartphones and Co. A lot is happening in this area. At the moment even slot games with the Smartwatch should be a topic. If you want to play with your computer, you have to be sure that the slot machine is available on your computer – that won’t always be the case.
What has no influence
Unlike other games like roulette, poker, craps or blackjack, slot machine strategies are very limited, or in short: they don’t exist. Of course, there are tips for more success, but each tip has limited effectiveness. As long as you don’t manage to manipulate the slot machine, get excellent bonuses over time, or just get the luck you need, you’ll lose sooner or later. These are the rules of the game. So before you waste your time trying to make winnings in this way, you should get better information to find the world’s best slot machine for yourself and have the most fun in the casino. And once you’ve done that, you don’t want to try any other games!
What I have experienced – until 2019
It’s been a good 13 years since I first logged into a casino. At that time I was still interested in all kinds of casino games and I changed the casinos constantly. Just when I felt at home at one, it became too boring for me and I went to the next casino. I think the best players do it that way because they can also benefit from the bonus offer. From my experience I can only tell you that you shouldn’t spend too much time on things like what the world’s best slot machine is or when slots are open. I think life is too short and you should have fun fast rather than late, you can’t rely on such items and pretend it’s over now.